Reviews & Analysis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder of unclear aetiology. Although genetic factors contribute to PCOS, they only partially account for its heritability. Here, Stener-Victorin and Deng discuss the evidence that altered epigenetic and developmental programming influence the pathogenesis and familial transmission of PCOS.

Pituitary tumours are treated with stable analogues of somatostatin and dopamine, which respectively bind to somatostatin receptor types 2 and 5 (SST2 and SST5) and dopamine receptor type 2 (DRD2). This Review discusses SST and DRD2 signalling and its clinical importance in treatment resistance.

The management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in older adults (aged ≥65 years) presents specific challenges. This Review summarizes the key age-related mechanisms contributing to T2DM and evaluates new evidence relating to frailty and sarcopenia, hypoglycaemia, comorbidities, and the implications for existing guidelines and therapeutic options.

This Review summarizes the mechanisms by which endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to β-cell dysfunction and cell death in monogenic diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition, the potential therapeutic strategies for T2DM and metabolic syndrome that target ER stress in β-cells are discussed.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are closely linked; effective therapeutics are lacking for both conditions, particularly NAFLD. This Review will discuss therapeutic options for NAFLD, focusing on targeting intermediary metabolism, insulin resistance and T2DM.

This Review critically evaluates the studies that support and refute the role of brain insulin in systemic nutrient partitioning. The authors discuss the role of brain insulin in metabolic control and the contribution of brain insulin resistance to metabolic disease and assess the therapeutic potential of enhancing or restoring brain insulin signalling in metabolic disease.

This article discusses the latest advances in the mechanisms of diabetic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy (DSPN) and painful DSPN, originating both from the periphery and the central nervous system, and outlines the emerging diagnostics and treatments.

The adrenal cortex is used to study adult progenitor niches and differentiated cell plasticity. Here, Lyraki and Schedl describe the complex regulation of steroidogenic cell function and renewal in the adult adrenal cortex by sex hormones as well as paracrine and endocrine mechanisms.

More than 7,000 clinical trials are currently ongoing involving new drugs for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This Review summarizes the novel drugs in development for T2DM that improve insulin sensitivity, stimulate insulin secretion or the incretin axis, or suppress hepatic glucose production.

Several shared mechanisms govern the development of bone and teeth. This Review summarizes these shared pathways and discusses the disorders that are related to both bone and teeth.

Obesity is linked to dysregulated cellular energetics in neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells in the tumour microenvironment. Here, Brown discusses the interdependence of metabolic pathways of oestrogen production in breast tissue and the obesity-related mechanisms that promote breast cancer growth.

Optoacoustic imaging enables the non-invasive and label-free imaging of the structure and function of organs, tissues and cells. This Review highlights key progress with optoacoustic imaging technology for applications in endocrinology and metabolism, with a specific focus on multispectral optoacoustic tomography and raster-scan optoacoustic mesoscopy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now an established cornerstone of cancer therapeutics; however, ICIs are associated with toxicities in various organs, termed immune-related adverse events. This Review highlights current understanding in ICI-induced endocrinopathies, including epidemiology, aetiology, clinical manifestations and approaches to treatment.

This Review focuses on physiological and pathological aspects of the hormonal regulation of biomineralization, which is crucial for skeletal health during adulthood, fetal and neonatal development and pregnancy. The role of mineral intake, serum concentrations of mineral and hormonal regulators of biomineralization are highlighted.

White adipocyte metabolism is important for the regulation of systemic metabolism and is often dysregulated in various conditions, such as cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this Review, Langin and colleagues provide an overview of lipid metabolism in white adipocytes and the related metabolism of glucose and discuss how these pathways provide therapeutic targets in metabolic disorders.

This Review summarizes the evidence from clinical trials for the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of thyroid cancer. The data from the experience with these drugs in clinical practice are also discussed, and factors that can help clinicians decide when to start or whether to continue tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy are considered.

Alterations of RET kinase have been found in diverse thyroid cancer subtypes. This Review describes the RET mutations and gene fusions that can occur in thyroid cancer and highlights specific RET kinase inhibitors that are in clinical and preclinical use.

This Review provides an update on the clinical management of MEN1-related tumours. Epidemiology, the clinical picture, diagnostic work-up and main lines of treatment for MEN1-related tumours are summarized. Controversial therapeutic aspects and issues that still need to be addressed are also discussed.

This Review discusses the susceptibility of the fetal immune system to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the consequences on pancreatic islet development, which might influence the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals affected by IUGR. The potential for immunomodulation as a therapeutic approach to treat IUGR-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus will also be discussed.

This Review summarizes the physiological functions, pharmacology and clinical studies of G protein-coupled receptors that are specific for lipid metabolite ligands. The challenges associated with the clinical development of therapeutics for type 2 diabetes mellitus that target these G protein-coupled receptors are also discussed.